What Are The Symptoms Of Ectopic Pregnancy And How Is It Diagnosed?
Ectopic pregnancies are sometimes difficult to diagnose. An ectopic pregnancy is suspected if a woman has symptoms of a late menses, irregular vaginal bleeding, or abdominal pain. Shoulder pain and a feeling of rectal pressure is also associated with ectopic pregnancy. However, some women have no symptoms (other than those of pregnancy), making the diagnosis difficult at times. A sensitive pregnancy test (HCG) can determine whether a pregnancy is “healthy” or not. Women with risk factors for, symptoms of, or previous history of ectopic pregnancy should be closely monitored with HCG blood tests (approximately 12 days after conception and up to 5-6 weeks after conception). In a healthy pregnancy, these levels rise in a definite pattern (doubling about 66% every two days). An ectopic pregnancy may be suspected when levels do not rise appropriately. A pelvic ultrasound is often used to determine the presence or absence of a pregnancy within the uterine cavity. Approximately 5-6 weeks after
